The Dutch health care system

• The "Huisarts" (family doctor)
• Emergencies
• "Ziekenhuizen" (Hospitals)
• The "Tandarts" (dentist)
• Pharmacies
• Insurance

The "Huisarts" (family doctor)

One thing about the Dutch healthcare system might strike you as unusual: the predominant role of the "huisarts" (family doctor or general practitioner). Once you have moved into your new house, you should immediately start finding a surgery close to your home and make an appointment to meet the "huisarts". In principal, you only choose your doctor once, so be sure you like and trust him or her enough to register. If not, feel free to find another doctor. Once you've registered, it's much more difficult to change. To find a huisarts near you, visit the website of the community you are registered. There you can find lists of family doctors.

Emergencies

Medical services are available 24/7.

• Outside regular hours, for urgent matters the voice mail of your family doctor will direct you to the closest central medical station ("Huisartsenpost") to consult the doctor on duty. The doctor there can help you further along.
• In life threatening situations you should always call 1-1-2, which is the emergency telephoneline to get help from the ambulance, police and fire department.

"Ziekenhuizen" (Hospitals)

The general hospitals of the region are:

• Arnhem and surroundings:
  Alysis Zorggroep / Rijnstate Ziekenhuis (Dutch only)
  
• Nijmegen:
  Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ) (Dutch only)
  University Medical Centre (UMC) St Radboud. (English information for scientists)
  St. Maartenskliniek
  
• Zevenaar:
  Alysis Zorggroep / Ziekenhuis Zevenaar

The "Tandarts" (dentist)

You can choose a "tandarts" near your home yourself in the same way you choose your family doctor.
Usually you visit your dentist about twice a year for a check-up and extra appointments are made for any necessary treatment. Depending on your supplementary insurance package, some or most costs are covered. Call the practice to enquire whether the dentist accepts new patients; unfortunately some have a waiting list. Outside office hours, your dentist's answering machine will tell you which dentist is available 24/7 for emergencies (they work on rotation).

Pharmacies

Medication prescribed by your family doctor, dentist or hospital physicians can only be bought at pharmacies. These are usually open during office hours and operate in rotation to ensure coverage throughout the city 24/7 as well. 'Lighter' drugs such as aspirin can also be bought at all drugstores.

Insurance

A basic insurance package defined by the government is mandatory for everyone living in the Netherlands. Supplementary insurance packages are optionally available at extra cost. Insurance companies must accept all applicants. Read more on the website of the Dutch ministry of health.

Please visit the English website of the union of Dutch healthcare insurers for information on all Dutch health insurance companies